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Monday, August 14, 2017

My first published novel was Gemini Rising, winner of the Mainstream Category in the 2012 Preditors & Editors Poll. That year, it was also 2nd in the Paranormal Romance Guild's Reviewer's Choice Awards. However,

Gemini Rising is a controversial dark fantasy. I didn't expect it to be published at all, but Canadian Publisher Double Dragon Publishing released it in 2012. This year, I took my rights back and Class Act Books accepted the novel for reissue under the new title Anointing: The Gemini Factor. I'm currently updating the manuscript for republication.

The story is told in a 'frame', starting in the present, the majority told in flashback, then returning to the present for the end. This excerpt is from the present and is a celebration of Alina's husband's birthday. The hero and heroine, Alain and Alina, are identical twins. Male/female mono-zygotic twins are a scientific impossibility, but not in the suspension of disbelief, right?

From Chapter 26 - Another Homecoming

An army of servants trooped across the lawn, their arms
laden with brightly wrapped packages.
Mum motioned Rory to a chair center stage on the dais. Alina stood behind him, her hands on his
shoulders. A young king, he smiled as
they stacked the gifts around him [her husband].

With paper and ribbon littering the platform and the ground,
Alain slipped into the shadows. She’d
give him ten minutes then signal the orchestra.
Her heart raced, but she mustn’t betray her excitement to Rory. She kissed his cheek, stroked his hair. At the soft thud of hooves on grass, she
nodded at the conductor.

To Trumpet Voluntary,
Alain strode the gamut of wicker torches.
Light gleamed on living gold. Red
ribbons fluttered on the stallion’s halter.
The palomino snorted, tossed his noble head. His snowy mane flagged in the breeze. A collective gasp rose from the crowd.

Every eye was on the dazzling pair—every eye but Rory’s.

She clasped his hand to her breast. “Isn’t he beautiful?”

Her husband’s voice was ice.
“The man or the horse?”

Alina frowned a reprimand.
“Your birthday gift.”

A smile brightened Rory’s handsome face. “Trust Alain to make a grand entrance.”

With a flick of his wrist, her brother halted the Lusitano
stallion at the platform’s edge. He
bowed low, his hair sweeping the grass.
How regal the man and the horse were.
Alain in his tuxedo, the stallion’s golden palomino coat glistening in
the torchlight. Focused on Alain, the
horse stood four-square, his ears flickering, nostrils flared.

Her brother straightened, shook his hair back from his
face. “Happy Birthday, Rory, from Lina
and me.”

Her husband brushed a kiss to her lips, shot to his feet and
bounced down the two stairs.

Alain smiled at her and handed Rory the lead. “His name is Prospero.”

Rory wound his arms around the arched neck. The stallion curled his head over the man’s
shoulder, pressing him close to the warm scent of horseflesh.

Alina laughed. “An equine
hug. See, he loves his master already.”

Rory turned, embraced Alain.
“Brother, you have outdone yourself.”

Alain beckoned, offering his hand. “He was your wife’s idea. Come, Lina, you must be first to mount him.”

Applause erupted. The
stallion danced to the end of the lead.
An anxious expression swept over Rory’s face. Alain whispered to Prospero, and the horse
stilled. Alina stepped down into her
brother’s arms. A quick embrace, then
she hoisted her skirt and Alain eased her astride the golden stallion. Rory beamed up at her.

She smiled down at him and blew a kiss. “I love you.”

Rory fisted the sky, the other hand clutching the horse’s
lead. “I love my wife,” he proclaimed to
cheers. With the same flamboyance, he
spun on a heel and paraded his birthday present before his audience.

Alina closed her eyes, her body swaying to the two-beat
rhythm. Finally, they were together
again, and she’d never allow anything to separate them.

_____________________

If you're not wary to venture into a story with a thread similar to Flowers in the Attic, look for Anointing: The Gemini Factor, a dark fantasy, coming from Class Act Books in October 2017.The picture is a mock-up of a cover that is simply for example purposes. The images behind the smoke will be different in the final cover. The smoke image is from Fotolia.Happy 14th of August! Linda

Saturday, August 12, 2017

If you haven’t heard about the Great American Total Solar
Eclipse, you must be on vacation from all news sources. Not to be confused with
the Great American Cookout, which started in April and goes through November,
the Solar Eclipse will last about two minutes. If you live in Hopkinsville, KY, you’re
in luck. That’s where it will last the longest, two minutes and 40 seconds. It
will take ninety minutes to cross the U.S. on a path from Oregon to South
Carolina.

What’s going to happen? Basically, the moon will get between
Earth and the Sun. Depending on where you live (or travel to), you’ll see either the total eclipse (along that path from Oregon to South Carolina) or a partial.
Where I live in west Michigan, we’ll see a partial. Think of a “fingernail”
moon and that’s what we’ll see of the sun as the moon’s umbra (shadow) covers it. Like the one just to the left of the total eclipse below.

copyright: Fred Espanek

Exciting, right? We’re all going to rush outside to look.
Right? Wrong. Unless you protect your eyes. Retailers all over the country are
offering “eclipse” glasses for sale. Be
sure they are safe or you could lose your sight.

Myths and Superstitions What could be scarier in ancient times than the sun
disappearing? They had to come up with a reason. Like mythical figures eating
or stealing the sun. In Vietnam, it was a giant frog, while the Norse blamed
wolves for eating the sun. The Inuits thought the sun and moon were fighting.

In Hindu
mythology, the god Rahu devours the sun to stifle the light that provides life.
Nasty guy.

The worst superstitions have to do with pregnant women. In
fact, with prior eclipses, pregnant women were told to stay indoors. The Aztecs
believed the eclipse might turn fetuses into mice. Yikes! I might have
grandmice instead of two healthy boys. (In case you didn’t know, my daughter-in-law
is expecting twins in November.) According to Mexican and South Asian myths, cleft
palates are caused by the eclipse. Not so. Scientific evidence debunks those
stories.

But one thing is true. Looking directly at the eclipse can
damage your eyes. You can make a pinhole
projector or buy special glasses. The following warnings are from the
article on pinhole projectors.

Diane Burton combines her love of mystery, adventure, science fiction and romance into writing romantic fiction.
For more info and excerpts from her books, visit Diane’s website: http://www.dianeburton.com

Saturday, August 5, 2017

I've heard about it, I've read about it all over the place, I've never imagined getting caught up in it.

See, I bought a fire stick from Amazon, it even has Alexa, and, boy, I'm enthralled. I have to be at work in less than 2 hours and I'm only on season one of Being Human which I'm loving by the way. I mean, a vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost - what more could a viewer want? I'm on the episode where the crazy vamp b**** turned a little boy and it's intense to say the least. Not sure how it's going to turn out but after watching this episode, I've got to get some sleep or I'll never make it through 2 shifts.

My viewing thus far has been very controlled if I can use that word in this instance. I've stayed away from shows that haven't ended because I'm impatient which has caused me not to watch many newer series which are running on Netflix. Some I know I'll never watch like, don't shoot me - Game of Thrones. I've seen some clips, read lots about it, and there is just nothing that really appeals to me and I seem to be in a very small camp on that one so I'll move on. Last week I did all of Bitten about werewolves and prior to that I binged the Almighty Johnsons, a take on Norse gods and goddesses reborn in people on earth. Before that there was one about teenaged merpeople. After Being Human, I don't know where I'll head but I seem to be on a paranormal spree. Anyway...

Hello, my name is Joann - I'm a binger!

Now if only I can get back to writing. Haven't done much since my hand surgery other than re-reading older stories in preparation for getting them back out there. I didn't realized I had so much! Contemplating new covers boggles my mind but in a good way because I'll finally have complete control over that process.

Well, thunder and lightning have arrived so I'll end by asking for any good suggestions to while away the final days of summer.

What programs have you binged on that you'd suggest to a novice in the arena?

Friday, August 4, 2017

While on vacation this year at Key West, Florida, we talked
with a girl, who said that she spent two months traveling on a boat, and
currently lived on a sailboat and absolutely loved it. I stood there with a
million questions running through my mind. I just couldn’t wrap my mind around
living like that since it was so foreign to what I was accustomed to.

I could feel her enthusiasm, but shuddered at the thought of
enduring the long hot nights until she saved up for some kind of air
conditioning­—while I envisioned having so few possessions and so much freedom.
Yet, I knew in reality I could never live that life. I was too set in my ways, too
much of a willing slave to my routines and possessions. But in my imagination,
I could live that life.

Oh, the Places You’ll Go

As a writer her story intrigued me. It would be a fabulous
setting for a character, or something I would enjoy reading about. Because as a
writer, and a reader, there’s something magical about exploring places I might
never see. For every beach I walk upon, I think of a book I read years ago
about sea turtles, I believe it was The Beach House by Mary Alice Monroe. I
know nothing about sea turtles, but after reading this book, in my mind I think
I kind of do, because I lived that life with that character.

What an indescribable joy to live so many lives in one
lifetime. In reality, I’ve lived in one state all of my life, but in my mind
I’ve been to many places that exist in the world, and others that only exist in
an author’s imagination—and mine.

Get On The Train

There are two camps. Those who love Disney and all it
entails and those who…don’t. I admit it. I’m in the second camp. I kind of put
all those places—Disney, Epcot & Universal etc.— in one category.I apologize to all of you who adore this
magical world. It could’ve been a few unpleasant experiences, or it might’ve
been because I’m rather introverted and don’t enjoy masses of people and long
lines, but so far I’ve never seen the magic that enchants others.

But now that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter world
exists in ‘reality’ at Universal Studios, I have to admit I would really love
to see that. To be able to actually physically arrive at Platform of 9 ¾ at
Kings Cross Station (and not just in my
imagination) and get on the train to Hogwarts would be fabulous.

I’ve been to Hogwarts in my mind many times and could only
imagine the thrill of seeing it brought to live and how amazing that must feel
to J.K. Rowling to see her imaginary world introduced to reality— to mere Muggles
;)

I’ve Never Left the Mountain

I live in Pennsylvania, so there are always some mountains
in view, but they’re not the Misty Mountains. You know, The Mountains of Moria.
Those of you who’ve read the Hobbit, and the Lord of The Rings books will
understand. I read these books years ago, but I still think of that world as if
it actually exists because the author brought it to life so magically.

They enchanted me, and still do. I traveled through those
mountains with Bilbo Baggins and his crew and experienced the awe and terror
they endured. I loved it­—in my imagination. In reality I might be more of a
wimp than a warrior.

Sail Away

Photo from our vacation at Islamorada, Florida

I love puttering around in my home, surrounded by familiar
things and places. Thus, exploring the world writing or reading a good book is
a fabulous way to get away from the everyday all while staying in the comfort
home.

There are days I just want to sail away from all my troubles and daily
stressors, and I can, just by sitting down with a book, or writing a new
character. Perhaps one who lives on a sailboat might be in my foreseeable
future.

Do You Have a Favorite Book
Destination?

Need a New Home for Your Stories? Don’t Miss Your Chance at
Winning a New Kindle right Here.

Maureen Bonatch grew up in small town Pennsylvania and her
love of the four seasons—hockey, biking, sweat pants and hibernation—keep her
there. While immersed in writing or reading paranormal romance and fantasy, she
survives on caffeine, wine, music, and laughter. A feisty Shih Tzu, her teen
twins & alpha hubby keep her in line. Find Maureen on her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Monday, July 31, 2017

My husband
and I are in Scotland while I research settings for the second book of my
Ancient Magic paranormal suspense series. What a marvelous excuse to get to
know the country of my origin!

Day 1: Inverness

Despite being jet-lagged, we enjoyed our stay in
the Palace Hotel, right across the street from Inverness Castle.

We had tea while
gazing out the window of our room at this amazing view of the Ness River and
Inverness Castle. Thank you, Paul, for asking for a “castle view” upgrade, it
was worth it.

Inverness
is a pedestrian-friendly city. It includes a lovely two-hour waterside walk
that follows the river south and then crosses to the opposite bank via a couple
of islands. While we didn’t have time to do that whole path, we strolled around
the city center and shopped. I found my Campbell clan tartan and bought cashmere
scarves for family members (my buying splurge for the trip), as well as a traditional
sgian-dubh, the ceremonial knife
that’s

part
of traditional Scottish Highland dress.If you
have any friends who wear kilts, you know the clansmen usually wear their knife
tucked into the top of their kilt hosiery. However, I plan to use mine as a
ritual athame.

We had
dinner at a little Italian restaurant down the street for our hotel, where I
discovered a new favorite wine, Primitivo Del Salento Caleo. I would recommend
both the restaurant and the wine.

My only
regret is that we could not visit the Inverness Highlands Family Archives to
research my Campbell clan family roots. It wasn’t open on Sunday, and we had an
early-morning tour scheduled the next day. I do intend to contact them for
research assistance when we get home.

Day 2: Outlander Tour

We met Diana
Bertoldi, our Tours By Locals guide, and were delighted to discover we were her
only customers for the day. She told us she’d lived in Italy before moving to
Scotland. While her son still lives in Milan, Diana considers Scotland her true
home.

Our first
stop was the Culloden Battlefield, one of the most important places in Scottish
history. It’s managed by the National Trust of Scotland and has an informative
visitor centre. However, Diana worked at the site previously, so she gave us a
vivid account of the final battle in the Jacobite Uprising.

At Culloden),
the Jacobites (mostly Scottish clansmen) lost 2,000 men, while the British
suffered a mere 300 causalities. The Duke of Cumberland’s dragoons (think of the
Outlander character Jonathan “Black Jack” Randall) chased fleeing Jacobite
clansmen into the Western Highlands, executing many of those they caught. The
Scottish massacre was so complete that the Culloden burial sites are marked by
clans, not individuals.

Those
clansmen who were not executed were often transported to the colonies, ushering
in the first wave of large-scale Scottish immigration to North America. The
British government also banned the tartan and kilt. The clan system—the social
order that had existed in the Scottish Highlands since before the days of
William Wallace—was lost to history.

Although
the clan way of life was formally eliminated, their sense of national pride was
not. In 2014, Scotland issued a
referendum on national independence. That, coupled with the release of Diana
Gabaldon’s Starz television drama, Outlander, has sparked renewed interest in
Scotland’s Jacobite Rebellion. The efforts of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the
Highlanders mark one of the most important—and ultimately tragic—moments in
Scottish history.

Our wonderful guide Diana
had arranged for us to meet the current McKenzie Clan Chief, Laird John Ruaridh
Grant MacKenzie.

We spent a delightful
couple of hours visiting with him and touring his home, Castle Leod. We shared
a dram of whiskey, while he gave us the background of the castle and all the
family portraits.

The relative most interesting to me was George, the 1st
Earl of Cromartie. A friend of Sir Isaac Newton and an ardent alchemist, he
spoke five languages and was against the burning of witches. A truly modern
man! His father Sir John, owned Staten
Island for a time, but sold it on account of “too many Indians and mosquitos.”

He also showed us the
giant chestnut tree on the back grounds, planted by Mary Queen of Scots’ mother,
as well as the only redwood tree in Scotland, along the front drive.

When she learned I was
researching sacred sites for my book, Diana took us to the Corrimony Cairns.

Sitting in a grassy
field surrounded by sheep and bordered by a small stream, the 4000-year-old
burial cairn and the standing stones ringing it are still intact. We had the
place completely to ourselves, so Diana gave me no information, just instructed
me to walk the perimeter and then let her know what I felt, if anything

I walked two-thirds
of the way around the stones, feeling like they were repelling me. As I rounded
the back of the cairn to complete my circle, it felt the opposite: the stones
were pulling me toward them. When I told Diana what I’d experienced, she
explained that an energetic ley line ran through the site, roughly along the
line where I’d begun to feel attracted!

That was my first
experience with the supernatural Scottish highlands. It wouldn’t be my last, as
we had two full weeks of sacred sites to visit with our next tour group, Gothic
Tours.

If you would like to
read more about sacred sites in the Scotland Highlands, visit my continuing
blog at www.writerSandy.com.

------------------------

I
live in Arizona with my husband, a super-smart Border Collie/Aussie mix named
Teak, and two huge black panther cats (18 pounds each), named Salem and Shadow
Moon. Their daddy, Magick, was even bigger! He's featured in my debut novel, Song of the Ancients, the first book in
my paranormal suspense series, Ancient
Magic.

They say write what you know, and I'm Wiccan, so my debut novel
involves witchcraft and Native American medicine magic. It's set in the
energy-laden town of Sedona, Arizona. It
was interesting to introduce the concept of witchcraft, seen through the eyes
of an ordinary, non-magical woman, and go through her reactions and disbelief
along with her. While I did a lot of research for this book, most of the
magical stuff I drew from my own Wiccan background and practice.

Sedona is but one earth "power site" in
the world. The Ancient Magic series will take Samantha and Nicholas, as well as
a few secondary characters, to adventures at other sacred sites. The second
book, Stones of the Ancients, will
take us to the ancient standing stones of Scotland, where I get to trace my own
heritage while researching the book. The series continues to Hawaii to learn
about Pele, the Goddess of fire and volcanos. The last book will be set
somewhere along the ancient icy land bridge of the First People, maybe Newfoundland,
Alaska or Siberia.

Book One – Song of the
Ancients is available now on Amazon, in both print and ebook.

Saturday, July 29, 2017

Odd title for a blog post,
right? I know it is. Follow me here. It’ll make sense in a moment.

When I wrote the book, What’s His Passion? Wild Card, I knew I
had two strong characters—Kris and Zayn. I knew they were the focus of the
book, but side characters can be just as important.

I’m an animal lover. I
really am. Having three cats and three dogs, you could say I live in a zoo.
You’d be right. When the mailman knocks on the front door, it’s a five-alarm panic.
But I love it and this love showed up in Wild
Card. Kris is a wounded man. He needs more than a lover. He needs a few
friends, too. My dogs are great companions. They don’t talk back—although I’m
convinced some of the barking is sassing—not that I mind. They stay beside me
when I’m blue and are great for exercise. So how does this match up to Kris?
And why would I bring a dog into a story about a gay man in porn?

In Wild Card, Kris lives in a nice private development, but even in
the nicest places, wicked people exist. His next-door neighbor has a dog.
You’ve probably seen the type—the dog is constantly outside. There’s no grass
under the dog house and the circle he runs. Rain, shine, heat, cold…the dog is
there. Kris sees a bit of himself in the dog next door. They’re both wounded.
The dog needs attention and love. So does Kris.

So Kris’s in porn. He
believes he can reach a little higher in life. He believes the same thing for
the dog. They’re kindred spirits. The dog is a pit bull, so people think he’s
dangerous. He’s actually very sweet and goofy. But out on the chain, he comes
across as scary. He really wants attention. Same thing for Kris. People see the
porn actor and think he’s dirty or nasty. He’s so much more once someone
unlocks his potential.

Here’s an Easter egg for you—the dog is named
Nugent. According to the neighbor, he’s named after Ted Nugent. That’s not
where I got the name. I’m a huge Cincinnati Bengals fan and the kicker for the
team during the writing of Wild Card happened to be named Nugent. The dog is
named after a professional athlete. Grin.

Now I have to admit I’m the
kind of person who can’t stand to see the dog/cat/etc hurt in a book or movie.
For the dog in Wild Card, the feeling
was no different. Nugent is a sweet dog. He and Kris as well as Zayn have to
have a happy ending. Want to know what the happy ending is? Then you’ll have to
read What’s His Passion? Wild Card. I
hope you enjoy the love and the dog.

Here’s a little bit about What’s His Passion? Wild Card:

Following his heart and passion will be his biggest role of all.

Kris Hunter wants out. He’s done pornographic films for the last
six years. The pay’s been good, but his creativity is nearly dead. His passion
is to act and to be a star on the big screen in mainstream films. When he
auditions for famed casting director, Zayn Mason, he’s convinced he’s on the
right path. He doesn’t want to take the casting couch route to success, but he
certainly wants Zayn in his bed. Can he follow his dreams and the man he
desires or will forces beyond his control derail his progress?

Zayn Mason sees the potential in Kris. As a casting director, he
looks for the right actor to fill the roles in movies. He’s seen plenty of
talent come and go, but no one stirs his soul both creatively and physically
like Kris. But Zayn knows the pitfalls of the movie industry. Crossing over
from porn isn’t easy and Hollywood isn’t always forgiving. Besides, he’s got
demons of his own. Can these men get beyond their pasts and find a future
together under the bright lights of the silver screen?

Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes of voyeurism and
intimacy with multiple partners.